Joshua Hanscom, portrait

Joshua Hanscom, MD

Born and raised in South Dakota. Obtained undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of South Dakota.

Personal Interests: Outdoor activities and weight lifting.

Why IR: Variety of pathologies and patient populations. Using advanced and continuously evolving technologies. 

Why Iowa: Great environment and people. Outstanding hospital with comprehensive services. 

Talal Mourad, portrait

Talal Mourad, MD

Talal was born in Wisconsin and grew up between overseas and the Chicagoland area. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois-Chicago and his medical degree from the University of Illinois-Peoria.

Personal Interests: Outdoor activities, pickup sports, relaxing at the beach, trying new food.

Why IR: I was drawn to IR for many reasons: the ability to deliver precise, high-impact therapies, use imaging and minimally invasive tools to solve complex clinical problems, and collaborate across specialties to treat a wide spectrum of disease. The constant evolution of the field, with emerging techniques and technologies, also creates exciting opportunities for research and innovation.

Why Iowa: As a large Level 1 Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center, and home to leading cancer, transplant, and burn programs, UIHC offers an unparalleled training environment. Its role as a major referral center offers exposure to a high volume and wide spectrum of pathology, spanning from bread-and-butter cases to rare and complex diseases. The institution’s culture of interdisciplinary collaboration and its commitment to innovation—particularly in areas such as AI in radiology—make it an exciting and forward-looking place to train. Together, these opportunities provide rigorous training in both diagnostic and interventional radiology. On a personal level, my interview at Iowa felt the most natural-everyone was incredibly welcoming, and I left with the strong sense that I’d be well supported and well trained for any future practice setting.

Seth Woods Profile Image

Seth Woods, MD

Seth was raised in rural southwest Nebraska along the borders of Colorado and Kansas. He obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Personal interests: I enjoy spending most of my free time with my wife and our two young children. We prioritize spending time with our church family and enjoying outdoor activities together like hiking and bike riding. I also love trap shooting, archery, riding motorcycles, golfing, and playing basketball. 

Why IR: There are many things that I love about IR: frequent technical problem solving and innovation; opportunities to treat patients of all ages with conditions of all acuities affecting practically any organ system; and constant collaboration with other medical specialties and healthcare professions. The unique combination of these qualities is what left no doubt in my mind that IR was the specialty for me, and I am very grateful to be where I am.

Why Iowa: Iowa was the most ideal fit for me and my family for various reasons, and I would encourage any applicant to engage in honest conversations with loved ones and mentors about priorities in order to find their best fit. Sometimes the most important factors are the simplest. Iowa works well geographically for us because our family is within driving distance. We have enjoyed the transition into our new church, community, and neighborhood. The people who make up the IR, DR, and surgery programs have been extraordinarily welcoming and supportive. Iowa's program will allow me to branch out professionally and will give me a broad skillset upon which to build my career.